What was you compost made of? Compost consisting of animal manures might have the disease pathogens that cause E-Coli, Listeria, Salmonella, and several others and if that undigested compost is used to make compost tea those disease pathogens can be present. All of the produce from your garden will need to be washed very well before using, especially if they are to be eaten raw.

Old socks, old kitchen tea towels, old t-shirts, old sheets/pillowcases, coffee filters make good small bags, old cotton shirts, etc. Cheese cloth is great and sold in the paint department. ;) Thin fabrics work better than thicker ones - anything that you can form into a bag shape. Dave

I'm a lazy composter. I have two bins in the garden and will probably do a third. I fill one all winter, mostly with kitchen stuff, top it off with grass, newspaper and whatever else in the spring. Water it well all summer and then let it sit for another year. I don't turn it, that would be too much work. Just water it the following summer and then that fall take the bottom stuff. Usually about 3/4. Most of it is broken down. I should probably layer more but went it is -30 out who wants too. The plants don't seem to mind. Cheryl

The amount of organic matter that you're shooting for will vary depending on the situation, the plant type, and who you ask but a pretty good rule of thumb is 5 to 6% by dry weight. If you put out steamed bone meal at a relatively aggressive rate of 15 lbs. per 1000 sq. feet, that would only boost the organic content by about 0.003%, or three one thousandths of one percent. That is, of course, before it even breaks down and some is lost to leaching, volitalization, plant uptake, etc. So the answer is yes but not much. Like Kimmsr, I too would top dress with compost.